The government has allocated KES 57.21 billion to enhance the education sector and develop a new funding model aimed at improving standards in higher education.
According to Government Spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura, KES 36.31 billion has been directed to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), KES 17.9 billion will be used to recruit Junior Secondary School teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, and KES 3 billion has been earmarked for the school feeding program.
During a press briefing in Nairobi, Mwaura encouraged prospective students to apply for scholarships and loans even without identity cards, ensuring that no student faces delays in pursuing higher education due to administrative issues.
Mwaura also highlighted that in June of last year, the government introduced a new funding model aimed at education reforms. This model seeks to create an equitable education system at the tertiary and college levels.
“Applicants under 18 can apply for loans and scholarships using their KCSE index numbers, attaching a copy of their birth certificate instead of an ID card. Those 18 and older who are still waiting for their ID cards should attach their waiting cards as proof of pending ID applications,” he said.
He emphasized that the new funding model is designed to equip students with the skills and competencies needed in key disciplines to drive industrial and economic development in line with Kenya’s aspirations.
“The fund was created to address the significant funding gaps left by the previous Differentiated Unit Cost model (DUC), which was intended to cover 80 percent of university education costs for admitted students through loans and scholarships,” he explained.
The government spokesperson noted that the new funding model, which was implemented in September of last year, uses a means-testing instrument to fairly assess students’ needs.
Students are categorized into five funding bands based on household income. For instance, students from households earning KES 5,000 or less per month will receive 95 percent of their funding from the government as loans and 5 percent as parental contributions.
Households earning between KES 5,000 and KES 23,000 will receive 90 percent government support—30 percent in the form of a loan, 60 percent as a scholarship, and 10 percent from household contributions.
For students from households earning between KES 23,000 and KES 70,000, 80 percent of their education costs will be covered, with 50 percent as a scholarship, 30 percent as a loan, and 20 percent as a household contribution.
Mwaura also mentioned that universities will begin informing students about the exact fees payable based on their household’s financial situation, as determined by the means-testing instrument, starting on the 19th of this month.
